Deep water power generation system and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A system for generation of power using an apparatus in deep water is disclosed. The system includes a ballast buoy configured to achieve a desired depth in the deep water, a substantially vertical hollow tube attached to the ballast buoy that is submerged under water when the ballast buoy achieves the desired depth in the deep water, and a converter for converting the physical environment created in the substantially vertical hollow tube by placement of the ballast buoy at the desired depth in the deep water.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/150,560, filed Jun. 1, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/218,238, filed Jul. 11, 2008, and U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/969,184, filed Jul. 11, 2007, theentireties of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to a system and apparatusfor power generation and, more particularly, to a deep water powergeneration system and apparatus.

2. Description of the Background

Generating a sufficient energy supply to run the world's everincreasingly energy hungry operation has become a goal on which manymodern scientists are intensely focused. One suggested methodology bywhich such energy supplies could be generated in an environmentallyfriendly manner has consisted of the generation of power using the waterpower of the world's oceans. Numerous types of such energy harnessingpower generators for operation with the world's oceans have beensuggested. Such a sustainable alternative energy source is increasinglyattractive as the cost of oil rises and the negative effects on theworld's environment of traditional energy supply systems become moreapparent.

Much of the focus on power generation from the world's oceans has beenon “wave “energy.” One design takes the wave into a funnel at the pointof the shore and drives air pressure past two turbines, from whichenergy is supplied. It has been estimated that this method may enablethe turning of a 250 kilowatt .generator. A second method provides for aseries of layered reservoirs following a carefully calculated slope.Essentially, such reservoirs discretize the potential energy of waveinput. The energy entering each reservoir is converted to kinetic energyby falling down through the reservoir system, and its energy in turn,turns a generator. It is estimated that the operation of such a systemusing breakwater may generate 150 kilowatts of generator capacity. Yetanother method places buoys on the system of the ocean and allows the upand down power inherent in waves (as water attempts to reach the pointof lowest pressure) to turn an electric generator. Such “wave power”systems have been estimated to enable the supply of ten megawatts ofpower occupying only four acres of ocean space. As such, the generationof a hundred megawatts of power would occupy just 40 acres of oceanspace, and would supply environmentally friendly power at a rate cheaperthan fossil fuels.

And yet another alternative methodology, a large buoy system employs aseries of large semi-submerged buoy sections, into which the wavesstrike and cause bending between the sections. This bending action movesa hydraulic piston, which pushes fluid in a linear flow that producesenergy. It has been estimated that such a large buoy system occupyingone square kilometer could produce 30 megawatts of power.

However, none of the aforementioned programs supply adequate energy atmodern standards to enable their widespread use. Further, certainprograms, such as the deep ocean pipe, might require the creation oftechnologies not yet available to enable their use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed generally to a system and apparatusfor power generation and, more particularly, to a deep water powergeneration system and apparatus.

The present invention solves problems experienced with the prior artbecause it provides for the clean and consistent generation of power.Those and other advantages and benefits of the present invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description of the inventionhereinbelow.

A system for generation of power using an apparatus in deep water isdisclosed. The system includes a ballast buoy configured to achieve adesired depth in the deep water, a substantially vertical hollow tubeattached to the ballast buoy that is submerged under water when theballast buoy achieves the desired depth in the deep water, and aconverter for converting the physical environment created in thesubstantially vertical hollow tube by placement of the ballast buoy atthe desired depth in the deep water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated byconsideration of the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which, like numerals refer to like parts, andwherein:

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the power system and apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the ballast buoy system;

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the power system acid apparatus; and

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the power system and apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the presentinvention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevantfor a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating,for purposes of clarity, many other elements found in typical hydrologicpower generation systems. Those of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that other elements are desirable and/or required in order toimplement the present invention. However, because such elements are wellknown in the art, and because they do not facilitate a betterunderstanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements isnot provided herein.

The present invention takes advantage of not only the natural up anddown motion of water, but additionally takes advantage of deep oceanwater pressure, and does so in a manner that has a lower environmentaland social impact than current methods. More specifically, the presentinvention has no need to place funnels, slopes, buoys, or large pipes atthe surface of the water, and as such constitutes an improved social andan environmental system over the prior art. Further, the presentinvention allows the reuse of, for example, off-shore oil rigs that areno longer in use, but allows for such re-use without significantmodification to those technologies, such as those modifications whichwould be required by the deep ocean pipe mechanism.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention takesadvantage of ballast principles to “sink” a power generating buoy to adepth sufficient to take advantage of the increased pressure at deeperocean levels. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in thepertinent art that such a ballast buoy, and the turbine which is turnedby the water flow, will be such that their use will be enabled in deepocean waters, without the formation of fissures or excessive corrosion.Corrosive effects maybe minimized, in part, by the depth to which theballast buoy is sunk, at least in that excessive temperature variationsof the water are minimized at deeper ocean levels, and further due tothe fact that salt content is minimal or non-existent at deeper oceanlevels.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the ballast buoy of FIG. 1.As is shown, the buoy may include one or more depth sensors, and mayadditionally include one or more, ballast compartments, wherein, as willbe apparent to those skilled in the art, water may be allowed until thedepth sensor assesses that the ballast buoy has reached the desireddepth level. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the depthsensors may be physically associated with the ballast buoy and maycorrespondingly automatically sense and achieve the proper depth level,or the depth sensors may merely constitute, for example, one or morepressure transducers, which may relay depth readings, with amathematical equivalent thereof, to the surface and entities on thesurface may control the entry of water into the ballast to obtaindesired depth levels.

The ballast buoy, as illustrated in FIG. 3, may, have mounted thereunderor there alongside a vertical hollow cylinder. The cylinder maypreferably be mounted in a sufficiently rigid manner such that theintense pressure of deep ocean waters will not bend or break thecylinder. The passing of ocean water upward (i.e., from points of higherpressure in deeper water to points of lower pressure at more shallowwater) may then generate kinetic energy through any method known tothose skilled in the art, such as by forcing the movement of a drivepiston. Such a piston may, for example, remain at equilibrium betweentwo pumps attached at opposed sides of the piston and respectivelyextending to the top and the bottom of the aforementioned cylinder. Sucha pump may be a simplistic pump, such as a hose that has a reducedinternal volume when the hose is stretched, and an increased internalvolume when the hose is relaxed, thereby acting as a pump. Once pumpedthe pressurized water may be expelled into an accumulator that feeds aturbine. The turbine may, in turn, drive a generator, and the generatedelectricity may be brought to the surface by a cabling known to thoseskilled in the art, such as standard submarine cabling.

As further illustrated in FIG. 4, the power generation system andapparatus may take advantage of pressure head differences betweenthe-vertical ends of the cylinder. By way of non-limiting example only,a cylinder having a length of 30 meters may be lowered and maintained ata deep water depth of 30 meters providing a first pressure head of707×10⁵ N/m² and a second pressure head of 4.04 10⁵ N/m². By way offurther non-limiting example only, a cylinder having a length of 40meters may be lowered and maintained at a deep water depth of 60 metersproviding a first pressure head of 11.09×10⁵ N/m² and a second pressurehead of 7.07 10⁵ N/m².

Known methodologies that employ similar pump and pressurized seawatersystems operate using water that is at significantly lower pressure thandeep ocean water. Consequently, the deep ocean water of the presentinvention, and more precisely the pressure under which such deeper oceanwater is, will allow for significant multiples of power tube generatedby the present invention over those power generations made available inthe prior art.

Further, the present invention lends itself to a multiple buoy system,wherein a buoy at or near the surface supports the ballast buoy at alower level thereby reducing the need for the ballast buoy to maintain aprecise proper depth. Further, one or more such buoys above the ballastbuoy may be present, and such buoys may be used to generate additionalpower, operate to hold the aforementioned cabling, or the like.Additionally, the present invention, either using a single ballast buoyor a multiple buoy system, may lend itself to the packatization of powersupply. More specifically, to overcome the inconvenience of obtainingthe electrical power generated in deep ocean water, the electricitygenerated may be brought to the surface in stages, or “packets” whereinsuch packets are stored until a sufficient amount of power isaccumulated to merit bringing that power to the surface. Such storagemay occur, for example, using capacitors, inductors, or other storage orenergy generation mechanisms. Additionally, the operation of the presentinvention is simplified by the non-continuous generation of the powerfrom deep ocean water level.

An additional alternative system would harness the intense pressureresident in deep ocean waters via a pipe dropped from the surface of theocean water down to those deep depths. The intense pressure would thendrive the water up the pipe, and the water would drive a turbine on thesurface based on the water flowing up the pipe.

The disclosure herein is directed to the variations and modifications ofthe elements and methods of the invention disclosed that will beapparent to those skilled in the art in light of the disclosure herein.Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modificationsand variations of this invention, provided those modifications andvariations come within the scope of the appended claims and theequivalents thereof.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for generation of power using anapparatus in deep water, said system comprising: a plurality of ballastbuoys at least one of which is configured to achieve a desired depth inthe deep water; a substantially vertical-hollow tube with a first openend and a second open end attached to each ballast buoy that issubmerged under water with the first open end at a first depth and thesecond open end at a second depth that is deeper than the first end whensaid ballast buoy achieves the desired depth in the deep water; and agenerator configured to generate electricity based on the pressure headdifference between the open ends of said substantially vertical hollowtube; and at least one storage device that stores the generatedelectricity for future use.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein placementof at least one ballast buoy at the desired depth in deep water occursat a depth sufficient to make use of the increased pressure at deeperocean levels.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein placement of at leastone ballast buoy at the desired depth in deep water minimizes corrosionof the system to make use of minimal temperature variations at deeperocean levels.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein placement of at leastone ballast buoy at the desired depth in deep water minimizes corrosionof the system to make use of decreased salinity at deeper ocean levels.5. The system of claim 1, wherein said substantially vertical hollowtube is a cylinder.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said substantiallyvertical hollow tube is coupled to at least one ballast buoy in a rigidmanner.